Shaft seal construction



March 8, 1949. B. J. SHELTON SHAFT SEAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 11, 1945 INVENTOR. Be/ym/h J 5/76/20/1 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,463,568 SHAFT sen. cons'rnuc'non Benjamin Jarnlgan Shelton, United States Navy Application August 11, 1945, Serial No. 610,388 Claims. (01. ass-41) (Granted under the act of March amended April 30, 1928; 3700.

The present invention relates to a shaft seal and has special reference to a shaft seal for use in immersion-proof devices.

More particularly, this invention relates to a moistureproof construction for application to various shafts on radios and other equipment provided with moistureproof cases to prevent the entrance of moisture or water vapor if such equipment should be immersed in water.

It occasionally happens,- for example during amphibious landings, that some of the equipment being taken ashore is immersed in the water. This generally results in rendering inoperative equipment such as radios, generators and the like. I

With the present seal, all leakage around the shafts is prevented even when the equipment is submerged to a considerable depth.

An object of the invention is to provide 9. moistureproof shaft seal.

Another object is to provide such a seal which prevents leakage of any moisture when the device in which it is employed is submerged to a considerable depth.

A further object is to provide such a seal that offers a minimum of frictional opposition to rotary motion of the shaft.

Further objects and advantages as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the follow g description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a shaft seal construction embodying the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view partially in elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

There is shown a barrier I which can be the front portion or panel of the case containing a radio or other equipment. The whole case is pref erably of moistureproof construction. Projecting through the barrier I is a shaft 2 which can be used for controlling, operating or tuning the equipment within the case I. Mounted on the shaft 2 by suitable means forming a watertight connection therewith is a substantially radially extending bafile I which is preferably in the form of a disc. One form of connecting means is shown in Fig. 2.

The portion of the shaft 2 lying in the opening provided in the barrier I can be threaded and a collar 4 having the disc embedded therein screwed onto this portion of the shaft. The disc is so positioned that it extends substantially radially of the shaft adjacent the outer face of the shaft 2 and passing into the case 3, 1883, ll G. 757) barrier I The collar 4 is preferably provided with a flange at each end and is formed in two parts, 5 and 6, to permit it to be placed on the shaft with a flange at each side of the barrier I. Parts 5 and Ii can be made of rubber or other suitable material. The disc 3 is positioned between the two collar sections. The foregoing construction provides a watertight connection between the disc I and the shaft 2. Any other suitable means for connecting the disc 3 to the shaft 2 can be employed.

A cover plate I, which is preferably circular with a diameter greater than that of the disc 3 and having a central opening for receiving the collar 4, is positioned adjacent to and overlying the disc 3. The perimeter of the cover plate 'I is attached to the outer face of the barrier I by welding, soldering or any other suitable means that forms a tween the barrier I and the cover plate I. With this construction, the disc 3 can be rotated within the space between the cover plate I and the barrier I.

In order to prevent any water or moisture from about the disc 3 between the cover plate I and the barrier I is filled with a suitable grease or grease-like material, such as a silicone, that is of substantially the same consistency as petroleum jellyand is moisture resistant, nonhygroscopic, and that does not dry or harden when subjected to elevated temperatures and retains its consistency over a wide range of temperatures.

If desired, in order to provide a seal that withstands extremely great pressures, a plurality of cover plates and discs can be employed on the same shaft. However, this will seldom be necessary as a single seal remains watertight when submerged twenty flve feet or more under the surface of the water.

With the present seal construction, positive alignment between the shaft 2 and barrier I is not required in order to maintain the seal absolutely tight. Moreover, when a waterproof case equipped with the present seal construction is immersed, the pressure of the water against the cover plate 1 tends to increase the integrity of the seal.

The seal comprises few parts and withstands long hard usage without getting out of. order. It prevents the passage of gas, air or liquids and can be used in connection with shafts of any size for a large number of purposes.

Changes can be made in this invention withwatertight connection bearound the shaft, the space out departing from the spirit and scope thereof purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A seal for a barrier having an opening and an element extending through the opening and movable with respect to the barrier, said seal comprising a radially extending baiiie mounted on the element and disposed substantially parallel to a surface of the barrier, locking means'on the element for engaging opposite sides of the blame to lock the baflle for movement with the element and to form a watertight seal with the element, said locking means having a radially extending flange disposed in spaced relation fromthe baflie on the side of the baiiie remote from the barrier, and a cover secured at its periphery to the side of the barrier adjacent the baffle and radially outward from the periphery of the baiiie, said cover extending radially inward into the space between the baffle and the flange of. the locking means,

said locking means being adjustable along the element to position selectively'the baiile along the element.

2. A seal for a barrier having an opening and a shaft extending through the opening and rotatable with respect to the barrier, said seal comprising a radially extending baiile mounted on the shaft and disposed substantially parallel to one surface of the barrier, locking means on the shaft for engaging opposite sides of-the bailie to lock the baiile for rotation with the shaft and to form a watertight seal with the shaft, said locking means having a radially extending flange disposed in spaced relation from the bafiie on the side of the baiile remote from the barrier, and a cover secured at its periphery to the side of the barrier adjacent the baflleand radially. outward from the periphery of the bai'iie,-said cover extending radially inward into the space-between the bane and the flange of the locking means, said cover being in sliding contact with said flange.

3. A seal for a barrier having an opening and a shaft extending through the opening and rotatable with respect to the barrier, said seal comprising a radially extending baflle mounted on the shaft and disposed substantially parallel to one surface of the barrier, locking means on the shaft for engaging opposite sides of the baiiie to lock the baiile for rotation with the shaft and. to form a watertight seal with the shaft,.said locking means having a radially extending'flange'on each side of the baiile and in spaced relation-from the baiile, the portion of the barrier deflning the opening extending into the space between one flange a d the banle, a cover secured at its-periphery to t e side of the barrier adjacent the andradially outward from the periphery of the bafie. said cover extending radially inward into the space between the baflie and the other flange, and a body of sealing compound about the disc between the cover and the barrier, said locking meansibeingadjustable alongthe shaft to position selectively the baflle along the shaft.

4. A seal for a barrier having an opening and a shaft extending through the opening and retatable with respect to the barrier, said seal comprising a radially extending baiiie mounted on the shaft and disposed substantially parallel to one surface of the barrier, means for locking the baiiie for rotation with the shaft and forming a watertight seal with the baiile, said means having a radially extending flange disposed in spaced relation from and substantially parallel to the baflie on the side of the baffle remote from the barrier, and a cover secured at its periphery to the side of the barrier adjacent the baflie and radially outward from the periphery of the baifle, said cover extending radially inward into the space between the bailie and the flange of the locking means, the locking means being adjustable relative to the shaft to position selectively the baffle relative to the shaft.

5. A seal for a barrier having an opening and an element extending through the opening and movable with respect to the barrier, said seal comprising a battle mounted on the element and disposed substantially parallel to a surface of the barrier, means for locking the baffle for movement with the element andforming a watertight seal with the element, said means having a flange disposed in spaced relation from and substantially parallel to the baflle on the side of the baiiie remote from the barrier, and a cover secured at its periphery to the side of the barrier adjacent the baflie and outward from the periphery of the bailie, said cover extending inward into the space between the baiile and the flange of the locking means, this locking'means being adjustable relative to the element to position selectively said baflle relative to said element.

BENJAMIN JARNIGAN SHELTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT Number Name Date 321,710 Garton July 7, 1885 r 602,374 'Stivers Apr. 12, 1898 1,001,687 Richards Aug. 29, 1911 1,105,268 Gohlke July 28, 1914 1,594,838 Kegresse' Aug. 3, 1926 1,749,590 Krarup I Mar, 4, 1930 1,919,248 Murphy July25, 1933 2,248,405 Freeman July '8, 1941 

